Get to Know Amber Kelley

Five years ago Amber Kelley, a researcher in a lab at UAB, said she didn’t understand how the lifestyle of a stay-at-home mom worked. Four years ago, she thought Facebook was ridiculous. Today, she feels differently. Now a stay-at-home mom herself, she applies her research skills to running the Edgewood Community Connection Facebook page as well as one for the Edgewood Elementary PTO, responsibilities she uses to help connect people to causes she cares about.

“It has brought me a lot of joy and gives me a platform to serve and to be an example for my daughter,” she said. “If you find ways to give back, it repays you tenfold. I’m grateful for the opportunity to focus on these things.”

We chatted with Kelley about her involvement in the community and recent win of the Moms Rock 2014 contest on BirminghamMommy.com.

How I got to Homewood: 

My husband and I were attracted to how family-oriented the community is, which is important. We moved to Edgewood nine years ago.

What happened before that: 

I grew up on a farm in Athens, Ala., and went to Auburn and then Mississippi State for a master’s degree in entomology, the study of insects. I worked in a medical research lab at UAB until five years ago.

How I started running Facebook pages: 

I met some ladies through Edgewood Elementary School who saw I was active on Facebook, keeping up with friends and their children, and they asked me to do the PTO page. I then realized we needed an outlet to talk with one another about events and local news specific to Edgewood and nearby. I started the Edgewood Community Connection page about a year ago. I have met so many people doing it.

Where Stand for Giving came from: 

My neighbor Andrea Snyder and I were talking about how much we love lemonade stands because they teach kids about business, and we decided our kids could do it for charities. They have their own Facebook page now. Most recently they sold Halloween drinks and “slime” at the Homewood Witches Ride to benefit the American Cancer Society.

What I do outside Facebook: 

I am on the Service Guild and am the assistant coach — more like cheer mom — for my daughter Scarlett’s third-grade squad. I just started mentoring a fourth-grade girl at Hayes K-8 School through Church of the Highlands, and I attend their Woodlawn campus.

How I got on the Moms Rock ballot: 

I encouraged other people to nominate people they knew, and then I got an email telling me I had made the list of finalists. I figured out it was my friend Misti Burnham Cooper who nominated me, and my mom, sister and girlfriends came to the party with me. It was an out-of-body experience. I am happy to get to represent my friends who are moms. I feel like it is a reflection of them.

How I use Facebook: 

It connects people here and helps me stay in touch with what is going on for my daughter. I tell people what I am doing and hope other people want to get involved too. I slowly found pages with relevant information and catalogued them to use and share on my pages. It’s like my morning newspaper, and I share things that catch my eye. People message me to ask questions because they think I am in the know. I am just a good researcher, and I like to connect people. It’s also easier to meet people in person after you have met on social media.

What’s next for me: 

I want to start a way for kids running the Kids Mercedes Marathon to run for a Bell Center child, like BellRunners, so kids can better connect with what they are running for.

What I love about Homewood: 

There are so many opportunities here, and I don’t want my daughter to miss them.

Who else should we get to know in Homewood? Send nominations for future columns to madoline@starnespublishing.com.